Grasshoppers

Grasshoppers, most notably, have large back legs and the ability for jumping. Depending on the species, grasshoppers can be very small - just a few millimeters - or they can grow to be several inches long. They have a generally elongated oval shape with powerful back legs and wings. They also have prominent eyes. Grasshoppers use camouflage to blend into their background and hide from predators; this means they are usually brown, green or gray. They also have short antennae (while their relative, the cricket, has long, obvious antennae). Grasshoppers use their long hind legs to rub against their wings to produce sound.

 

Grasshoppers are out and about during the day, unlike their nocturnal relatives, which makes them easier to identify in daylight hours. 

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Grasshoppers are able to devour entire gardens when populations are high, and even threaten trees and shrubs through defoliation.  They are, and have been since the 1700s, an extremely destructive pest.  When drought occur in grasshopper-filled regions, they compound the problem as they will eliminate what crops have made it through the weather phenomenon. 

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Though unusual, grasshoppers can bite, spit, and poke you with their leg spikes.  They are not poisonous, but can leave irritation, staining, and pain in their wake when threatened or swarming.

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To learn even more about grasshoppers and how to keep them from eating up your plants, check out blog post

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